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Energy efficiency of higher education buildings: a case study

Nelson Soares (MIT-Portugal Program, EFS Initiative, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal AND ADAI, LAETA, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal AND ISISE, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.)
Luísa Dias Pereira (MIT-Portugal Program, EFS Initiative, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal AND ADAI, LAETA, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.)
João Ferreira (MIT-Portugal Program, EFS Initiative, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal AND GEMF, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.)
Pedro Conceição (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.)
Patrícia Pereira da Silva (MIT-Portugal Program, EFS Initiative, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal AND INESC-Coimbra, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.)

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education

ISSN: 1467-6370

Article publication date: 7 September 2015

2027

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose an energy efficiency plan (with technical and behavioural improvement measures) for a Portuguese higher education building – the Teaching Building of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra (FEUC).

Design/methodology/approach

The study was developed in the context of both the “Green Campus – Challenge for Energy Efficiency in Higher Education” and the Energy for Sustainability Initiative of the University of Coimbra, Portugal. An energy audit was conducted based on the analysis of the energy consumption profiles. A monitoring campaign was carried out to measure and disaggregate the electricity consumption. The consumption of natural gas and water were also assessed. The building envelope and the heating and lighting systems were also evaluated. Some patterns of energy-environmental behaviours of the academic community were investigated through a Web-based survey.

Findings

The energy efficiency plan contemplates short-term tangible/intangible actions. It also considers the investment and payback period of the tangible measures. The implementation of three improvement measures in the lighting system would lead to a consumption reduction of about 26,123 kWh/year, avoiding the emission of 3,704 KgCO2/year, for an initial cost of 9,920 (payback period of 3.7 years).

Research limitations/implications

Results are restricted to the case study and there are limitations in their generalisation outside of their context. However, they show some broadly implications and trends that have relevance for the higher education sector. This paper highlights the importance of engaging students, faculty and technical staff for working together on the assessment of the energy efficiency of the buildings where they study and work.

Social implications

The higher education sector holds important functions in educating the next generation of professionals for a sustainable culture. The categories of activities described in this paper are good examples of what can be done within the academic community for acting towards sustainability. The results also pointed out that making users aware of their energy consumption is a priority towards the energy efficiency in higher education buildings.

Originality/value

Reductions on energy consumption are expected if the energy efficiency plan would be implemented. The results of the behavioural study were presented to the FEUC’s board of directors to be integrated in the “Good Practices Manual on Water and Energy Management”.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The first author acknowledges the support provided by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the PhD scholarship SFRH/BD/51640/2011 in the framework of the MIT-Portugal Program. The second and the third authors acknowledge the support provided by FCT under the PhD scholarships SFRH/BD/77105/2011 and SFRH/BD/76357/2011, respectively. This study was partially supported by FCT under the project grant PEst-C/EEI/UI0308/2011 and the Energy for Sustainability Initiative of the University of Coimbra. It was also supported by the project Energy and Mobility for Sustainable Regions - EMSURE (CENTRO-07-0224-FEDER-002004).

Citation

Soares, N., Dias Pereira, L., Ferreira, J., Conceição, P. and Pereira da Silva, P. (2015), "Energy efficiency of higher education buildings: a case study", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 16 No. 5, pp. 669-691. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-11-2013-0147

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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